New system in Brisbane

maquaponics

Hi Everyone,
Have set up a new system in Brisbane - I'm new to the practical side of aquaponics but have been reading about it profusely for about 18 months!
The system compiles of one growbed and two bathtubs in which house the 26 Jade Perch.
The fish tanks are dug in under my house to try and maintain a constant temp and away from sunlight.
I'm getting yellowing and die back from the leaves of my strawberry plants (photos inc) but then they seem to produce another new stem/leaf.
PH seems to be pretty constant 7.2-7.6 and I've been doing a 1/4 water change once a week to ensure the ammonia levels don't get out of hand - haven't had any troubles though?
The system has been going for a couple of months - I started the first two-three weeks with seasol then introduced the fish. The fish tanks are approx 425 litres total.
As I've joined the two fish tubs - so one is the pumping tank and the other receives the out flow from the grow bed, the little finglings got down in the waste section between the two baths - so I have subsequently removed the grid from the waste section so they don't get stuck! (lesson learned - cover holes better)
The feed seems to be going by morning so I'm happy I'm not over feeding.
Have placed a breather pipe on the auto syphon but it sometimes doesn' cut out.
The pump is on a timer of 15mins on 30 mins off during the day and 15mins on and 45 mins off during the night. I've got two air stones running one in each tank/tub.
Any comments would be much appreciated!

Cheers Matt of Brisbane

p.s I'm intending to establish a 2500 litre fish tank and 6 grow beds in the near future - but want to make sure i've got the basics right first!

tcshad

seems like a lot of fish... how big is your filter volume?

RupertofOZ

If the grow bed is a bath tub... then about 250L ...max...

Charlie

Not sure why you are using a auto syphon while the pump is on a timer :dontknow:

mantis

You have the pump on a timer and autosiphons which is sort of wrong. Autosiphons usually have the pump running 24/7, but I guess its not a rigid rule.
With the pump on a timer you just need standpipes with a small hole at the bottom to slowly drain the bed when the pump is off.
25 jades with that one growbed will become nasty when the fish get bigger. I would be putting another one or two bathtub beds on there before it does

Good work tho and welcome :wave1:

SuperVeg

Welcome, and welcome to the Brisbane branch of BYAP

maquaponics

Yeah i've got two bath tubs hooked up as fish ponds approx 425litres.....
Only added one photograph sorry :think:

Am intending to have a bigger setup under constuction soon. Then i'll transfer the Jade Pearch into the bigger 2500 litre tank.
I've got one grow bed at the moment - but have 6 more tubs sittting under the house waiting to be added onto the system when required

Thanks for the advise about the timer and auto syphons.
Anyone got any suggestions on yellowing leaves ? Lack of Iron?

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Charlie

maquaponics wrote:

Anyone got any suggestions on yellowing leaves ? Lack of Iron?

You could add a dolop of seasol for trace elements and a spoonful of chelated iron into your GB under the water supply from FT.

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